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Dungeon Club #2
Time to Party
The party continues but the problems get bigger in this second installment of this original Dungeons & Dragons graphic novel series brought to you by New York Times bestselling author Molly Knox Ostertag and critically acclaimed illustrator Xanthe Bouma.
Olivia loves being the Dungeon Master of her after-school club, creating a world with magic and epic battles with adventure around every corner. She’s always felt at home in her game, but now—with new members and new plotlines—her world has gotten more complicated than ever.
It doesn’t help when Olivia’s older sister, Lu, comes home from college and brushes off all Olivia’s hard work, telling her to get real. A seed of doubt is planted, and suddenly the colorful world of her game starts to fade around her. Will Olivia be able to keep everything from changing, or will the party fall apart?
Olivia loves being the Dungeon Master of her after-school club, creating a world with magic and epic battles with adventure around every corner. She’s always felt at home in her game, but now—with new members and new plotlines—her world has gotten more complicated than ever.
It doesn’t help when Olivia’s older sister, Lu, comes home from college and brushes off all Olivia’s hard work, telling her to get real. A seed of doubt is planted, and suddenly the colorful world of her game starts to fade around her. Will Olivia be able to keep everything from changing, or will the party fall apart?
Audio CD
First published July 9, 2024
37 people are currently reading
3412 people want to read
About the author
Molly Knox Ostertag
42 books2,431 followersI grew up in the forests of upstate New York, where I spent the first half of my childhood reading about fantastical adventures and the second half acting them out with foam swords at a live action roleplaying camp . I graduated in 2014 from the School of Visual Arts, where I studied cartooning and illustration, and I currently live in Los Angeles. My artistic interests include women in fiction, fantasy and sci fi, superheroes, and history.
I illustrate a twice weekly webcomic called Strong Female Protagonist with co-creator Brennan Lee Mulligan, which was listed as one of io9's Best New and Short Webcomics when it launched in 2012. I ran a successful Kickstarter in the summer of 2014 to print the first volume, which was distributed by Top Shelf comics and is now available in stores and online.
I'm currently working on a graphic novel with First Second named Shattered Warrior, coming out in Spring 2017.
I illustrate a twice weekly webcomic called Strong Female Protagonist with co-creator Brennan Lee Mulligan, which was listed as one of io9's Best New and Short Webcomics when it launched in 2012. I ran a successful Kickstarter in the summer of 2014 to print the first volume, which was distributed by Top Shelf comics and is now available in stores and online.
I'm currently working on a graphic novel with First Second named Shattered Warrior, coming out in Spring 2017.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
November 2, 2025
i gotta stop reading books on planes that make me cry.
October 11, 2024
Actually illegal that I don't have a book 3 in my hands rn
July 24, 2024
This might be one of my favorite dnd graphic novels! I love the mix of real life drama and game play drama! I also love how most of the time it truly sticks to dnd rules and such. Great writing!!
March 7, 2025
so so excellent! the characters are adorable and this volume gave me everything i wanted, from individual growth to relationship development. the way d&d is used as both a bonding experience and a metaphor is super entertaining.
Molly Knox Ostertag is a graphic novel legend in the making, and i think Xanthe Bouma’s illustration work is genuinely unparalleled (see also: the Five Worlds series).
Molly Knox Ostertag is a graphic novel legend in the making, and i think Xanthe Bouma’s illustration work is genuinely unparalleled (see also: the Five Worlds series).
October 19, 2024
I love this series so much! Molly Knox Ostertag just never misses, and I love this series about these kids finding themselves and friendship through D&D. I love the gender journey one of characters goes on, as well as the friendships that form over the course of this volume. I can't wait for the next one!
July 12, 2024
4.5 I need them to never stop making these I LOVE
September 3, 2024
can't wait for my 3rd grade bestie to read this so we can talk about it
September 24, 2024
Så fin skildring av betydelsen av att hänge sig åt nördiga aktiviteter och att det ibland är lättare att leva ut och vara sig själv i rollspelens alternativa världar än i den riktiga. ❤️
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July 30, 2024i think this was even better than the first - just so cute and lovely and full of heart <3 i really love the parallel drama of the d&d storyline and the characters' real life friendships and also the CHARACTER DESIGN!!! the art in general is just so adorable and lively, this really warmed my heart. a fantastic feel good read perfect for a summer afternoon :)
September 25, 2024
I enjoyed this one a bit more than Roll Call. I hope this series continues, I love the way narrative balances between the characters in the game and the players in their own lives. Two-tons of fun!
April 1, 2025
De verdad que los libros de Molly Knox son mi lugar seguro y serian el lugar seguro de mi yo adolescente. Siempre me dejan el corazón calentito.
June 26, 2025
I don’t care if it’s for children, I’m obsessed
September 19, 2024
As a former D&D DM, I know how hard it is to make a story up on the spot. Having to create a world changing event or kill off a character without a flinch can be all consuming. So I feel for Olivia.
The Dungeon Club is back in this amazing sequel to Roll Call and we have 2 new characters. Joining Olivia, Jess and Tyler are two people we met in book 1, but they weren’t MC’s at the time. Sam and Sammi are best friends and no stranger to the stage, seeing as how they’re both in theater. Asking them to join the club was a no brainer.
In this book, the D&D portion of the story has a climactic cliffhanger that ends the book, leaving us wondering how the team will get out of the pickle they’ve found themselves in. We also got some new character development with one of the MC’s coming to the realization that they are non-binary and two of the other ones having a bit of a flirty relationship that seems to be going somewhere… hopefully.
I’m really enjoying the growth from each of the books and for a middle grade graphic novel, this is really beautiful progression. It’s turning very queer, very quickly and I’m here for it!
The Dungeon Club is back in this amazing sequel to Roll Call and we have 2 new characters. Joining Olivia, Jess and Tyler are two people we met in book 1, but they weren’t MC’s at the time. Sam and Sammi are best friends and no stranger to the stage, seeing as how they’re both in theater. Asking them to join the club was a no brainer.
In this book, the D&D portion of the story has a climactic cliffhanger that ends the book, leaving us wondering how the team will get out of the pickle they’ve found themselves in. We also got some new character development with one of the MC’s coming to the realization that they are non-binary and two of the other ones having a bit of a flirty relationship that seems to be going somewhere… hopefully.
I’m really enjoying the growth from each of the books and for a middle grade graphic novel, this is really beautiful progression. It’s turning very queer, very quickly and I’m here for it!
August 28, 2024
Sometimes, a sequel can be better than the first.
This is definitely such a series.
Maybe it's the tabaxi (cat-person), whose in-game introduction is purrfect, or just the addition of more players. Or it could be that the "real-life" plot elements seemed more realistically feasible and manageable this time.
I'm also a sucker for "friendship is magic" themes in role-playing game stories.
The art continues to be superb, and the main and main-supporting characters feel believable. (The side characters of Olivia's family and the bullies could stand to be fleshed out more.)
Horray for character growth and development, too!
Love the D&D story's cliffhanger. I would like more books in this series, yes please.
This is definitely such a series.
Maybe it's the tabaxi (cat-person), whose in-game introduction is purrfect, or just the addition of more players. Or it could be that the "real-life" plot elements seemed more realistically feasible and manageable this time.
I'm also a sucker for "friendship is magic" themes in role-playing game stories.
The art continues to be superb, and the main and main-supporting characters feel believable. (The side characters of Olivia's family and the bullies could stand to be fleshed out more.)
Horray for character growth and development, too!
Love the D&D story's cliffhanger. I would like more books in this series, yes please.
July 18, 2024
"I've always had a world in my head"
ahhhh I am loving this series so much! The details really make the story and the conflicts, relationships, and character arcs are so real and natural. It's really cool seeing how great both the campaign story and the real story are, how balanced they are with page space, and especially when they overlap a bit as is true to every campaign I've been in. I also want to be Ms. Brehse soooo badly. A critical success of a series <3
ahhhh I am loving this series so much! The details really make the story and the conflicts, relationships, and character arcs are so real and natural. It's really cool seeing how great both the campaign story and the real story are, how balanced they are with page space, and especially when they overlap a bit as is true to every campaign I've been in. I also want to be Ms. Brehse soooo badly. A critical success of a series <3
August 13, 2025
The color palette and art is so nice! I love the illustration on page 10. The friendships are so sweet and also I love Olivia’s outfits. I got annoyed with how common the sweat bead drawn on everyone is. In volume 1 as well, it just happens too much. But I really enjoyed these books, they’re so captivating and easy to read! This one also ended really fast but I look forward to volume 3.
July 23, 2024
So wonderful, please write more in this series, my tween son loves them and I love them too.
September 10, 2024
actually in tears, this was so amazing. really hoping there’s another in the works!
September 12, 2024
Don’t you just love it when the sequel is even better?
September 15, 2024
This is lovely. More complicated than the first volume, but the added characters are well crafted and the whole thing reeks of heart. Deeply felt and sweet.
September 16, 2024
Excellent made up story about a made up story about how kids of all ages grow into their authentic selves.
September 20, 2024
Dungeon Club: Time to Party
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5) or 8.42/10 overall
Characters - 8
Atmosphere - 9
Writing - 8
Plot - 9
Intrigue - 8
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 9
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5) or 8.42/10 overall
Characters - 8
Atmosphere - 9
Writing - 8
Plot - 9
Intrigue - 8
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 9
October 4, 2024
Maybe even better than the first one? Just so sweet. The type of story I wish I could’ve had when I was younger.
October 28, 2025
I think I liked it better than the first book.
July 22, 2024
AHH and now I have to wait for a third one?!!?!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2024
The cuteness continues, goodness. This one really resonates with me as an artist and I just love these precious babies.
July 17, 2024
Just as heartfelt as the first, but this time delving deeper than just evolving friendships and looking at the whole party's characters: from changing familial relationships, dealing with bullying and anxiety, expressing gender, and handling romance and crushes, as well as saving the D&D world from a sister who wants to summon a demon and DESTROY ALL.
It did feel like there were more D&D scenes, which might be less engaging for those who came just for a fun graphic novel about friends, but I found them even more engrossing than book one's, as it seemed to be more cohesive, leading up to an epic showdown rather than scenes of the party bonding.
I'll definitely book talk this series come the start of the school year, and can't wait for the third volume!
Pre-read:
Must...pre-order!
It did feel like there were more D&D scenes, which might be less engaging for those who came just for a fun graphic novel about friends, but I found them even more engrossing than book one's, as it seemed to be more cohesive, leading up to an epic showdown rather than scenes of the party bonding.
I'll definitely book talk this series come the start of the school year, and can't wait for the third volume!
Pre-read:
Must...pre-order!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2025
:3
Dungeon Club Review
5/5 stars
This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!
I thought this short graphic novel series about a bunch of middle school kids playing D&D would be really fun, and I turned out to be right. I’ve never played D&D, but I’ve always wanted to. Reading this only made the longing worse.
We do get to see a little bit of the game the main characters are playing, which is always really cool when it comes up, but it’s mostly just about the struggles that middle school kids have. I'm not usually a huge fan of stories set in our world, but I was actually ok with this one.
At the beginning of the story we have two main characters, best friends who are playing a D&D campaign between the two of them. One of the friends wants to recruit more players while the other just wants things to stay the same with their campaign. You know, the kinds of stuff that middle schoolers struggle with because they're kids and haven't experienced a lot of social situations yet.
I felt so emotionally invested in the characters and the story with this one. At the end of the first volume, I felt like there was already a complete story, but then when I read the second volume it all made since why they creators decided to keep going. I get the feeling that this series could go on as long as the creators have ideas, but it could also end at any time. I'd honestly be happy either way.
Overall, I think if you're even slightly interested in playing D&D and just want a cute story about kids playing D&D, you'll probably have fun with this series. But don't blame me if your longing to play D&D gets worse. That's just how this series hooks you.
Have a nice day/night everyone!
Dungeon Club Review
5/5 stars
This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!
I thought this short graphic novel series about a bunch of middle school kids playing D&D would be really fun, and I turned out to be right. I’ve never played D&D, but I’ve always wanted to. Reading this only made the longing worse.
We do get to see a little bit of the game the main characters are playing, which is always really cool when it comes up, but it’s mostly just about the struggles that middle school kids have. I'm not usually a huge fan of stories set in our world, but I was actually ok with this one.
At the beginning of the story we have two main characters, best friends who are playing a D&D campaign between the two of them. One of the friends wants to recruit more players while the other just wants things to stay the same with their campaign. You know, the kinds of stuff that middle schoolers struggle with because they're kids and haven't experienced a lot of social situations yet.
I felt so emotionally invested in the characters and the story with this one. At the end of the first volume, I felt like there was already a complete story, but then when I read the second volume it all made since why they creators decided to keep going. I get the feeling that this series could go on as long as the creators have ideas, but it could also end at any time. I'd honestly be happy either way.
Overall, I think if you're even slightly interested in playing D&D and just want a cute story about kids playing D&D, you'll probably have fun with this series. But don't blame me if your longing to play D&D gets worse. That's just how this series hooks you.
Have a nice day/night everyone!
July 30, 2025
While I forgot to write a proper review for the first book, I found that whatever I thought I forgot came back quite easily with a few hints from THIS volume. I remembered that Olivia was protective about her D&D time with Jess—and ONLY Jess—before finding new friends and learning that Sharing is Good. I was prompted to remember that but that was GOOD since it allowed them to concentrate on their club.
This is a good continuation of that, but it's also a bit... I don't know. Sometimes it feels like the LGBTQ+ books I read are a bit "oh, I'm actually not straight and/or cis, do you hate me now?" about things. I'm not saying that's BAD, especially if a reader is brand new to the topic. I guess I sort of feel like having to ease into it means it's still socially new, vs. if it's just treated like a Normal Thing, it will... become a normal thing!
Is that just me? Wishful thinking? Annoyed that a literal handful of people can ruin things for absolutely everybody else?
Anyway, the core story of this volume is about insecurity, mostly, between stumbling blocks and insecurity about unwanted (or wanted!) change and general Impostor Syndrome, and while it's great that there are books aimed at younger readers for dealing with this in real life, it felt a bit on the heavy side for me. Like, Olivia getting writer's block IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT—yikes, how does THAT happen? I know I'm not one to talk, since I've struggled with writing fights at ALL, but surely you just ad-lib stuff? That's the main quality a good DM needs?
I might be overthinking this, though, haha. I mean, I'd like to avoid just saying, "GOOD ART FUNNY STORY A++ WOULD RECOMMEND" or similar. At least add SOME commentary on the story that really shows my deeper feelings about it!
Good art, funny story, absolutely would recommend for young adventurers, though!
This is a good continuation of that, but it's also a bit... I don't know. Sometimes it feels like the LGBTQ+ books I read are a bit "oh, I'm actually not straight and/or cis, do you hate me now?" about things. I'm not saying that's BAD, especially if a reader is brand new to the topic. I guess I sort of feel like having to ease into it means it's still socially new, vs. if it's just treated like a Normal Thing, it will... become a normal thing!
Is that just me? Wishful thinking? Annoyed that a literal handful of people can ruin things for absolutely everybody else?
Anyway, the core story of this volume is about insecurity, mostly, between stumbling blocks and insecurity about unwanted (or wanted!) change and general Impostor Syndrome, and while it's great that there are books aimed at younger readers for dealing with this in real life, it felt a bit on the heavy side for me. Like, Olivia getting writer's block IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT—yikes, how does THAT happen? I know I'm not one to talk, since I've struggled with writing fights at ALL, but surely you just ad-lib stuff? That's the main quality a good DM needs?
I might be overthinking this, though, haha. I mean, I'd like to avoid just saying, "GOOD ART FUNNY STORY A++ WOULD RECOMMEND" or similar. At least add SOME commentary on the story that really shows my deeper feelings about it!
Good art, funny story, absolutely would recommend for young adventurers, though!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews